Empty Nest Survival Guide for Parents

As teens head to college this fall, many leave their parents behind to live in an empty nest for the first time since having children. Mom.Me offers tips on how to cope with an empty nest after the kids have gone off to college for the year.

As summer draws to a close and kids head off to college, many parents are dealing with how to handle those first few weeks of empty nest life. To help you get through this transitional time, mom.me has created its own Empty Nest Survival Guide.

Take a side tripPlan a fun detour on the way home after dropping your kid off at college. Stop at a quaint bed & breakfast for a few nights or visit an old friend. Building in a post-drop-off event you are looking forward to can help take the edge offthe goodbye.

Let your feelings outYou may feel you have to be brave and hold back tears when sending your child off. However, at some point, it¹s healthy to let yourself have a good cry

Pat yourself on the back Plan a special meal to toast the accomplishment.

Plan communicationsBefore your child leaves home, discuss how often you should contact each other. Maybe texts are the best way to stay in touch, or a weekly phone call or Skype session. Knowing you can count on regular times to connect can help make you feel less bereft.

Nurture from AfarWithin the first month or so, send off a care package filled with your child's favorite foods and/or a few mementos from home.

Separate your moodsTake doom and gloom calls with a grain of salt and keep in mind that usually your child will recover faster than you!

RememberYou'll adapt: Most parents adjust to the change just fine within a few months. Besides, you aren't saying goodbye forever. Most schools give students ample time off. Before you know it, your kid will be home for fall break or Thanksgiving, which perhaps, is the most comforting thought of all.

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NYMetroParents is the parenting division of Davler Media Group and encompasses 9 regional print magazines within the greater NY metro region as well as the website (nymetroparents.com). Following the success of the first NYC parenting resource book, "Big Apple Baby," BIG APPLE PARENT was launched in 1985; it is now the largest publisher of regional parenting content in the United States.